Switch and signal indication



H. B. TAYLOR.

SWITCH AND SIGNAL lwnlcAloN.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.25| |916.

Patented N v. 18, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I'.

I/III/ENTO? waa 72k By \I M3365.

A TTUR/VEY H. B. TAYLOR.

SWITCH AND SIGNAL INDICATION.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.25,191s.

1 ,322,270. Patented Nov. 18,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

fig.

BVNIWSQ Anon/VH UNITED PATENT FFICE.

HERBERT B. TAYLOR, or wEsTF-:fnLn New Jni'csnr, AssIeNOR To HALL SWITCH& SIGNAL co., a CORPORATION on MAINE.

To all whom t may concer/z: I u

Bc it known that L'HERBERT B. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States,'and a 'resident of the town Vof lVestfie'ld, county of Union, and Stateof New Jersey, have iiivfented certain new and useful .Switch and SignalIndications, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and improved means of controllingtraffic of trains or the type known as electric interlocking systems.

My present invention relates more specifically to a particular means ofindicatioili of the correct functioning of such devices.

It has been the practice in operating switches and semaphoreselectrically, Vto so arrange the devices and circuits that lt-he towerman will have definite indication after he has pulled a controllinglever that the function which the lever was intended to control hasoperated in the manner in which he so intended it. This-has :beenaccol'nplished in various manners, one being the employment of 'a directcurrent `supply to operate the function and then causing the functionupon the completion of its Voperation to 'close a circuit through a.separate and distinct source of alternating current supply, to send anindication back to the tower man, and to operate a device therewithwhich would allow him to complete the full stroke of his lever.

One object of my' invention is to obtain an indication circuit withcharacteristics in distinct opposition to the circuit employed in thecontrol of the devices. `Another Object of my invention is to simplifythe wiring of such devices and avoid the necessity of having powerlilies carrying different characteristic currents to the variousfunctions to be operated.

Other objects and advantages will befunderstood by reading thespecification and will be more specifically described and. claimed inthe appended claims.

Referring to the figures, in Figure 1, I show diagranni'iaticall'y theoperating and kcontrol circuits for. a switch machine and also for thecontrol of a semaphore.

In Fig. 2 I show a section of a current changing device takenlongitudinally 'with the shaft. y K p y y' In Fig. 3 I show a crosssection taken through A A. in Fig. 2.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patent-ea Nov. 1s, 1919.

Application inea August 25, i916. serial No. 116,308.

In Fig. #l- I show a sectional side elevation of aA controlling lever,showing the indication magnet and the method in which it controls thelever.

Referring to Fig. l, I show a switch control lever 1 and signal controllever 2 which are located preferably in an interlocking tower, at anyconvenient place near the railroad track. Lever l carries tappet circuitcontrolling devices 8 and Ll, arranged to coact withthe various contactsprings 5, G, 7, 8, 9, l0, lla-nd l2, and lever 2 carries the tap'petYcircuit controllers 13 and I4- arranged to coact with 'contact springsl5, 16, 17 and 18, a common return wire 19 is runfroin the interlockingtower vto every function to be controlled. A 'normal operating wire 2Oand a reverse operating wire QI are run to every switch operatingmachine Yand a control wire 2Q is run to every semaphore operatin'gmechanism. A source of direct current supply Q3 is located preferably inthe interlocking tower and connected by means of wire 24C to the connnon19. The other side of the source of supply 23 is connected by means ofwire 2 to contact springs G and S and by 'means of wire Q6 to thecontact spring 16. The switch operating mechanism consists of a systemof mechanical connections toV theswitch to be operated which are driventhrough a suitable train of gearing by means of a direct current motorwhich is shown diagrammatically by means of the comniutator 27 andopposing field windings 28, 29 and 30, Sl. There are also provided twosystems of tappet circuit coutrollers 32 and 83 which operate inconjunction with the mechanism as hereinafter described.

In addition to this there are provided two slow acting operatinolmagnets 3iand T35 which control the contacts 3G, 37, 3S and 39, 1&0.aIrespect-ively. The normal operating wire 2O is,r connected to contactsprings 42 and 43 and by means of wire 44e to contact 4-1, and also tothe contact 115 of the circuit controller 64; on the signal mechanism.

Reverse operating wire E31 is connected to contacts fie ande? andthrough wire i8 to Contact 38. Contact-s Ll0 and 12 are connectedthrough indication magnet winding 4K9 to commen 19, and contact 18 isconnected through indication magnet winding 5G to common 19. rEheoperating wire Q2 is conA nected to one side of the hold clear magnet 51of the signal mechanism and also to contact 52 of the circuit controller62 and contact 53 of the circuit controller 63.

The mechanism of the semaphore 55 is operated through a suitable trainof gears by means of a direct current motor diagrammaticallv sho-wn bymeans of lield' winding 56 and commutator 57, and when the semaphore isin the clear position it is held by means of the hold clear magnet 51ina manner well known in the art, the current passing from source ofsupply 23 through wire 26, contact spring 16, tappet circuit controller13, contact spring 15, wire 22, hold clear coil 51, wire 58, and backthrough common 19, and wire 24 to source of supply.

As the circuits and mechanism are now diagrammatically shown the switch5-1 is set for main line trarlic and the semaphore 55 is in the clearposition.

Referring to Fig. 11, it will be seen that the lever 2 is composed of asliding member 79 carrying an operating handle 80 and arranged to slidehorizontally on a bed 81. A slot 82 is formed in the under side of themember 7 9 and is provided with a locking dog 83, having sloping upperfaces 81 arranged in such a manner that the dog 83 will be forceddownward whenever it passes under a step pin 85. The dog 83 also has arecess 86 formed in one of its sides and is provided with a coactingspring pressed ball 87 which will retain the dog in its upward ordownward position until force is applied to move the same, either upwardor downward. The slide member 79 is also provided with a cam groove 88arranged to impart a vertical motion to a well known locking bar 89 bymeans of the connecting link 90 and the actuating roller 91. The lockingbars 89 on the various levers are so interlocked that it is necessary tocomplete the full stroke of any one lever before another lever can beoperated, this being accomplished in a manner which is old and wellknown in the art. The indication magnet consists of a laminated ironstructure 92, carrying a coil 50 on one side of the same. A lever arm`93 is pivoted at a point 94: in such a manner that a shading coil 95carried by the arm 93 and surrounding a portion of the iron core 92 willbe free to travel outward along the section 96 of the core 92. Arm 93also has an extension 97 which carries a shoe 98 operating in a verticaldirection in a suitable guide 99, and pivoted to the arm 97 at a point100. The operation of the lever is as follows:

Upon moving the handle 2 backward the sloping face 84 of the locking dog83 will pass under stop pin 85 and the dog 83 will be forced downwarduntil the projection 101 will pass down into the recess 102 of the bed81. Should the operator then attempt to complete the stroke of hislever, the projectlon 101 of dog 83 will engage with the face 103 in thebed 81 and prevent its further movement. However, upon the reception ofthe alternating indication current which passes through indicationmagnet coil 50, the shading coil 95 will be forced out` ward on accountof the induced current therein'. This causes the shoe 98 to be raisedthereby forcing the dog 83 upward until the projection 101 will be clearof the face 103. The dog is retained in this position by means of theball 87. The lever will new be free, and the operator can complete thestroke of the same, thereby releasing his other levers in order that hemay operate these as desired.

The operations of the various devices to place the semaphore 55 at stopand inove the switch 54 for take siding movements are as follows:

In order to move the semaphore 55 to the stop position the tower manoperates lever 2, moving the same forward until the tappet circuitcontroller 14, bridges the contact springs 17 and 18 as shown in dotted,lines at 60 and tappet circuit controller 13 moves to the positionshown at 61, opening the circuit between contact springs 15 and 16.

It will now be seen that the current supply to the hold vclear coil 51has been opened at the conta-ct springs 15 and 1G, and semaphore 55 willcommence to move to the stop position by gravity in the well knownmanner. This will rotate the armature and the commutator 57 of thesignal motor backward. The circuit controllers 62, 63 and 64@ arearranged to move through an angle of 9() degrees with the movement ofthe semaphore 55. It will thus be seen that when the semaphore 55 hasalmost reached the stop position, the circuit controllers 63 and 6l willwipe by and momentarily make contact with their respective contacts 53and L15. Attached to the motor shaft are collector rings and 66 and acommutatordevice 67. The collector rings 65 and 66 are connected toalternate contact segments of commutator 67 as shown at 68 and 69. Itwill be seen that as the semaphore 55 returns to the stop positionclosing circuit controller' 64- and contact 45, a supply of directcurrent wilt pass from the source of supply 23 through wire 25, contactspring 6, tappet circuit controller 3, contact spring 5, wire 20, wire441,. contact 415, circuit controller 6J: to collector ring 66, throughcommutator 67, brush 70, primary winding 71 of transformer, brush 72,commutator 67, to collector ring 65, through wire 73, back throughcommon 19, wire 24C, to source of supply.

On account of the rotation of the com` mutator 67. the current passingthrough the primary winding of transformer 71, will be alternatelyreversed in direct relation to the speed of rotation of the commutator67. At

the same time that circuit controller 64 `and contact close circuit:controller 63 and contact 53 are closed, and in consequence of thealternation of current in the prin'iary winding 71, a secondary currentwill be induced in the secondary winding 74, which will lbe alternatingin characteristic, and will pass through wire 75 to circuit controller63, contact 53, wire 76, wire 22, wire 78, contact 17, tappet circuitcontroller 14, cont-act 18, indication magnet winding 50, back throughcommon 19 to secondary winding 74. It will be seen `that upon theenergization of indication magnet winding 50, that the lever 2l will bereleased and the towerman can then complete its stroke, causing thetappet circuit controllers to take up the position as indicated at 104and 105, thereby leaving all the cont-acts on this lever open, andunlocking all other levers which may now 'be safely operated. Then thesemaphore has completed its movement to stop position the contacts 45and 53 will have been again opened, thereby havingleft all theindication circuits of the signal open.

In order to throw the switch 54 forthe take siding movement, the towerman will move lever 1 forward until tappet'circuit controllers 3 and 4will take up the positions as indicated by dotted lines at 104 and 105respectively. This will close the circuit from source of supply 23,through wire 25, contact 8, tappet circuit controller 3, contact 7,reverse operating wire 21, contact 46, tappet circuit controller 106,con-y tact 107, wire 108, through coil 35, wire 109 and back to common19 and wire 24, to source of supply. This will energize the magnet 35and close contacts 39, 40 and 41. The current will then pass from wire108 to Contact 39, through wire 110, through field windings 31 and 30,through wire 111, through commutator- 27 and armature windings, wire112, back through common 19 and wire 24, to source of supply. This willoperate the motor to operate the switch 54 to the siding position. Uponthe commencement of the operation of the switch, the circuit controller32 is moved to a position which will cause the tappet circuitcontrollers 113, 114 and 115 to take the positions as shown in dottedlines at 116, 117, and 118. As the switch nears the completion of itsmovement, the circuit cont-roller 33 is moved over, causing` the tappetcircuit controllers 106, 119 and 120 to take up the positions shown indotted lines at 121, 122 and 123. This will open the operating Vcircuitto the motor through the tappet circuit controller 106 and the tappetcircuit controller 119 will shunt the windings of the motor, throughwire 112, commutator 27 and the armature of the motor, wire 111, reversefield coils 29 and 28, wire 124, wire 125, contact 126, tappet circuitcontroller 119, contact sition,

E127, wire 128, Contact 40, which is still held closed on account ofslow acting :feature of magnet 35, wire 129, common 19,- bacl: to wire112. This will act asa snubbing circuit to the motor and formaretardat-ion device at the completion of itsl operation- It will lalsobe seen that as the tappet circuit controller 120 passesbetween contacts47 and 131, the energy from source of supply 23 will pass througlrwire25, contact V8, tappet circuit controller 3, contact 7 reverse operatingwire 21, wireV 132, contact 147, tappet circuit controller 120, contact131, wire 133, wire 134, collector ring 135, commutator device 136, wire137, primary 138 of transformer, wire 139, back through commutatordevice `136, to collector ring 140, wire'141, common 19 and'wire 24,back to source of Supply.

On account-of the rotation of commutator device 136, the' current in theprimary 138 of the transformer will be alternating in characteristic andwill, therefore, induce asecondla'ry valternating current in secondarywinding 142, which will pass through wire 143. through contact 41, wire144, wire 44, normal operating wirel 20, to contact 11, tappet circuitcontroller 4, contact k12, througl. indication magnet winding 49 andback through common 19, and wire 145, to secondary 142. This willoperate the indication magnet of lever 1 in the same .manner asdescribed for lever 2 and release the same, in order that the tower manmay complete its stroke. Upon the completion of the stroke of the lever1, the tappet circuit controllers 3 land 4 will take up the ypositionsas indicated by dotted lines at 146 and 147 respectively. This will openthe indication circuits at contacts 11 and 12, and will lea-ve theVswitch 54 in the take siding position. Y

The sequence of operations for the reverse movement ofthe switch areidentical to the above, and it is therefore, not considered necessary todescribe the same.

After the switch has been returned to the normal position, leaving the`circuits as shown in Fig. 1, the operationr to clear the semaphore 55is as follows:

Lever 2 will move forward to the full pomoving tappet circuitcontrollers 13 and 14 to the positions as shown and energy will passfrom the source of supply 23 through wire 26,. contact 16, tappetcircuit controller 13, contact 15, wire 22, contact 52, circuitcontroller 62, field winding 56, commutator 57 and armature of motor,wire 59, back to common 19 and wire 24 to source of supply. This willenergize the motor and cause the same to rotate and move the semaphore55 to the clear position, when circuit controller 62 is opened, contact52 cutting off energy from the motor, and leaving the semaphore 55 heldin the clear position by means of the circuit as previously describedthrough the hold clear coil 5l. f

Although I have described one typical circuit and mode of operation ofmy device, it is apparent that many modiications may be made in the sameWithout departing from the spirit of the invention, and I therefore donot wish to be speciiically restricted to the particular form as shownand described.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is l. In combination with a traiiic controllingdevice, a direct current motor for operating the same, a source ofdirect current supply Jfor said motor, means extraneous to the trailiccontrolling device for controlling said source, and means operativelyconnected to said traflic controlling devicefor changing thecharacteristics of a portion o1c said direct current supply to induce asecondary current to control the operation of said extraneouscontrolling means.

2. In combination with a trafiic controllingdevice5 a direct currentmotor for operating the saine, a sourceof direct current supply for saidmotor, means extraneous to the controlling` device for controlling saidsource, and means comprising a commutator for making a portion of saiddirect current supply alternating in characteristic to induce asecondary current to control the operation of said extraneouscontrolling means.

3. In combination with a traffic controlling device, a direct currentmotor for operating the same, a source of direct current supply for saidmotor, a current converting device extraneous to the motor andcontrolled thereby, a control lever, a three wire circuit between saidtralic controlling device and said control level', and means forimpressing alternating current upon the circuit to control the operationof the control lever. l

et. In combina-tion with a-traiiic controlling device, a source ofdirect current for operating the same, means operatively connected tosaid trallic controlling device 'for making a portion of said currentalternating in characteristic, a control lever, connecting wirescomprising a circuit between said traffic controlling device and saidcont-rol lever, and means for impressing alternating current upon thecircuit to control the operation or the control lever.

5. In combination with a traiiic controlling device, a source of directcurrent for operating the same, means comprising a commutatoroperatively connected to said traffic controlling device for making aportion of said current alternating in characteristic, a controllever,'connecting wires comprising a circuit between said traiiiccontrolling device and said control lever, and means for impressingalternating current upon the circuit to control the operation of thecontrol lever.

6. In combination with a switch operating mechanism and a switch controllever, a semaphore operating mechanism and a semaphore control lever, acommon source ot direct current supply, and means associated with thesemaphore mechanism to change the characteristics of a portion of thedirect current supplied to the switch control mechanism when the switchcontrol lever is in a certain position to control the operation oi thesemaphore control lever.

7. In combination with a traffic controlling device, a direct currentmotor for operating the same a source or' direct current supply for saidmotor, a current converting device `comprising a commutator operated bysaid motor to convert a portion of said direct current to alternatingcurrent, a control lever, a circuit between said trafiic controllingdevice and said control lever, a transformer ttor inductively impressingalternating current upon the circuit, and means included in said circuitcomprising an inductively operated device to control the operation oi'said control lever.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

HERBERT B. TAYLOR.

